Stand Up for Europe Our Proposals 2017 review process

Stand Up for Europe Our Proposals 2017

1) Democracy and accountability

The European Federation must be established through a democratic process Europe to
formulate a European Constitution which would build on and go beyond the existing Treaties
among, and allow a united Europe to effectively tackle the key challenges we face, while also
upholding the subsidiarity principle.
The new European Government, as the European Federations executive branch, must be
directly democratically accountable to European citizens through elections. A reformed
European Parliament, with power of legislative initiative and competence across all policy
fields must be at the heart of the democratic constitution. An upper legislative chamber
representing Member States must be fully transparent, effective and accountable. We propose
the introduction of new tools for direct citizens participation for all European citizens
irrespective of country of origin to be able to pronounce themselves directly on policy issues
to be referred to them by the reformed European Parliament or the Executive, or following a
request of a minimum number of citizens from across Europe. Any tool of direct participation
will be accompanied by thorough, high-quality, inclusive pan-European public political
debate.
2) Public finances
The European Federation should have a European Treasury. This Treasury should manage a
federal budget financed through resources and revenues collected by the Federal
Government,) including through European Federal bonds, and federal public debt. Its
currency should be the Euro. At the federal level, a more effective taxation system should be
put in place to finance federal expenditure. This system should avoid tax duplications and
favour economies of scale, thus reducing the overall tax burden on the average European
citizen. A fiscal policy that gives the European government the financial resources to
implement the key policies outlined in this statement and manage a higher proportion of
Europes wealth creation (at levels similar to the public sectors of advanced industrialised
states, and allow more significant and effective public investment, as opposed to the
minuscule 1% of European GDP that the EU manages at present. European macroeconomic
policies must aim to rectify the economic imbalances within the Federation.
3) Fiscal harmonization
We support tax harmonisation to reduce social dumping and tax evasion and avoidance from
large corporations within the Federation and internationally. Tax related bureaucratic and
administrative procedures must be harmonised so that they are made easier for companies
and individuals moving across Europe.

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Stand Up for Europe Our Proposals 2017 review process

4) European Central Bank

The European Central Bank should be kept independent, but must be give a broader mandate
of ensuring price stability, high employment and sustainable economic growth together. The
ECB should act as a lender of last resort.
5) Employment
Ensuring a high level of employment and quality decent work in a rapidly changing world
much is an economic priority for the European federation. A more integrated Europe will
allow us to build on our strengths and skills and improve the functioning and productivity of
our economy. This will in turn create more job opportunities, in particular for young people.
Increased integration will also help us ensure full mobility of the workforce within the
Federation and to preserve the European social model. We must adapt to the challenges of
automatization and digitalisation, encouraging the integration of emerging technologies.
Every citizen should have enough income to ensure a decent standard of living, with no one
will be left behind, and every citizen must have the opportunity to access and participate in
labour markets. This must include a gender perspective, as well as vulnerable and
marginalised groups.
Employment strategies must include investment in education and training, research and
development, including life-long learning and training, with European schemes to provide
opportunities, mobility and exchanges in all sectors.
6) European social model
The European Federation must protect and strengthen the European social model, mean that it
ensures that its citizens are able to exercise their civil, political, and economic and cultural
rights, with high level of welfare, ensuring fair standards, and high quality provision of public
services throughout the Federation. The Federation must ensure that social and economic
policies put the well-being of citizens first, working towards greater social mobility and
social inclusion.
The European Federations provision of social welfare and services must be complementary
to Member States. There must be a Europe-wide convergence of protections of social rights
and protections, as well as public service provisions towards a common high minimum
standard.
7) Solidarity
The principle of solidarity between the peoples of Europe must continue to be a core value of
the European Federation. Reinforce the European cohesion policy, focus on key Europe-wide
infrastructure networks and set up some complementary European welfare to improve
territorial and social cohesion across and within Member States. The principle of solidarity
must apply to an effective and sustainable social model, as well as in addressing the needs of
the most vulnerable, such as refugees and asylum seekers, or those facing discrimination and
exclusion.
8) Industrial policy
The European Federation should support European businesses and civil society operating in
Europe and abroad with an effective federal industrial policy aimed at boosting innovation,

Convention 2017
Stand Up for Europe Our Proposals 2017 review process

increasing harmonisation of industrial rules and conditions across Europe, improving market
access, quality and productivity, high quality employment and ensuring sustainable use of
resources. Significant investment must be made in research and development, and adaptation
to emerging technologies, while responding to their socio-economic impact.

9) Energy policy
The European Federation needs an energy policy that is sustainable and that effectively
secures energy access throughout Europe, and as such it must prioritise an urgent transition to
renewable carbon-free economy, in order to tackle climate change, and remain a global leader
in the field of sustainability. This requires an ambitious coordinate European approach. An
energy transition will not only provide a significant economic boost, it will also improve
Europes energy security and independence.
10) Environment
We believe that sustainable development is the basis for the future of European economic
growth and consider environment as a common public good. The European Federation needs
a complete ambitious sustainability strategy, which connects environmental policy to
economic and social policy.
Europe must be a global leader in an economic transition towards sustainability and in the
fight against climate change. As such there must ambitious Europe-wide transition
programmes in various sectors, from energy to agriculture, transport and manufacturing,
making use of the latest emerging technologies to transform Europe into the cleanest, most
resource-productive and competitive economy.
11) Research and Innovation
Research is a primary source of economic and social development, and should receive
stronger support by the European Federation, with direct connection to the economy and
society for large-scale implementation.
12) Education
Education is an essential priority for a democratic society, for innovation and social cohesion,
and there must be investment in the highest attainable quality of education for all. It is key for
people to be active, participating European citizens, as well as social creating mobility and
inclusions, and therefore requires serious investment. There must be a European strategy on
education from the earliest age, up to life-long adult learning, coordinating every level of
government.
The European Federation must ensure investment in citizenship education, in schools and
outside the classroom, and for all ages, which explains the principles of a democratic society,
the functioning of each level of government, and how citizens can and should participate.
There must also be an emphasis on education for diversity, promoting understanding of
multiple cultures and identities, human rights and fundamental values.
The European Federation must also prioritise language education and multilingualism, as
laying a foundation for mobility and intercultural dialogue across Europe.

Convention 2017
Stand Up for Europe Our Proposals 2017 review process

The European Federation must encourage innovation and research, and promote European
mobility through strengthening such initiatives such as the Erasmus+ exchange programme
for people in all walks of life and economic sectors.
13) Culture
European culture consists of a rich and dynamic multitude of local expressions that must be
preserved and promoted as a unique treasure and as the common ground of our shared
identity. Our perception of culture must include the co-existence of multiple identities at the
same time. Citizens may relate equally and simultaneously to their local, ethnic, national and
European identities, and such diversity can be facilitated and encouraged in a changing
interconnected and interdependent world.
Intercultural dialogue and cultural policy must promote and protect diversity and tolerance,
and facilitate the social inclusion of all, combating prejudice and discrimination through
positively fostering understanding. Europe must also come to terms with its complex histories
with a colonial past, a give a voice to a diversity of historical narratives.
14) Language
English can be established as the vehicular language of the European Federation, to facilitate
administrative and commercial transactions, without replacing our national and regional
languages and cultures, which are precious elements of our collective richness. The European
Federation must invest in promoting and developing multilingualism across Europe.
15) Foreign and defence policy
The European Federation should be have full competence on foreign and defence policy. It
should have one single army with a single central command, one single diplomatic corps, and
a single seat at the United Nations Security Council, representing a common European
foreign policy. The Europe Union should be a progressive force in the world, at the forefront
of initiatives to advance respect for human rights, the reduction of inequalities, the peaceful
resolution of disputes and the sustainable functioning of the global economy.
The European military would be placed under democratic control with a specific mandate as
defined in the federal constitution. European defence policy must increase efficiency of
spending and bring Europeans together in training and service, and be compatible with
existing security and defence structures.
16) Security
A federal police force and a European Intelligence Agency should be put in place to deal with
federal crimes such as terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking and federal tax evasion.
The European Federation should be entitled to manage asylum policy and the control of
external borders through an EU border police and guard corps.
Europe must live up to its humanitarian obligations in welcoming refugees and asylum
seekers, and it need to connect its security policy to social cohesion and inclusion at home,
and sustainable development abroad. The European Federations security and defence
policies must always be informed by principles of human rights, the rule of law, and
international solidarity.

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Stand Up for Europe Our Proposals 2017 review process

European security policies must take into account ongoing technological developments, and
their implications. European citizens have the right of privacy, and the European Federation
must maintain the highest standards to ensure private data shall be adopted by states and
companies.
17) Fundamental Rights
The European Federation must guarantee the universal human rights of all people within it,
and advance peace, tolerance, understanding, and human dignity. Violations of human rights
and democratic rule of law by Member States cannot be tolerated, and must always be
redressed.
The European Federation must promote and advance gender equality, and combat all forms
of gender-based, ethnic or racial discrimination through ambitious programmes to advance a
positive equal and tolerant vision of European society.
The European Federation must strive to safeguard the fundamental rights of those who are
most vulnerable, including refugees and undocumented migrants, and those facing
discrimination.
European integration has always been about promoting peace, democracy and human rights,
and the European Federation must always seek to advance these values and continually
develop the quality of its democratic governance and public life.

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